The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-12-02
cowED THE HENDERSON GANG.
An Incident in the Life of Tavern
Keeper in an Ohio hiver Town.
Eronl the Nelo York Slnt.


Speaking about nerve,n said Brooks, as
he sat at table in the office of the Com
mercial Travellers Association, ''the bravest
man l ever met with was one Prescott, of
Evansville, Ind. He was daisy. | often
stayed at his place--a sort Of tavern, saloon,
billiard room, and dance hall combined.
1t was like this; There was q bit of property
which had been idle for years. All sorts Of
men had tried to run it, but they had to
get out. They lacked the required nerve.
The bic DDS would cross overfrom Henders H.
KY, and make it disagreeable for the land
lord. They would play his billiards and
drink his whisky, and then when asked for
pay would set in and clean his shop out
Finally this man Prescott heard OF this
property for sale, found the price low, and
so bought it in. But | don't suppose he
knew just what allied the property, for he
was from New Hampshire. I just wish
You could have seen the cussi Why, he
didn't look big enough to whip a cat. He
was, was one of those SLIM Jims, with sandy
HAIR and weak legs, sallow-faced,
light, watery blue-eyed fellow.
was travelling through there at
that time, and l happened along a week
or so after Prescott got started. He had
fixed the place up in STYLE l drove up at
dusk, put out my team for the night and,
after drink prepared to go out for the
evening. | noticed ten strapping young
bloods in the billiard room They We're
dressed well, and had gold watches with
long chains. There didn't seem to be any
thing the matter with them, and left them
playing billiards and smoking cigars, with
now and then a call on the bar. When
got back to the tavern, after a while, the
same crowd was there, and there didn't
seem to be anything the matter with them
then. But Prescott said to me Il was a
Vermonter and he and l felt somewhat
acquainted:
I'm afraid these boys will give me
trouble
CIV hyp
"'Well, this is that Henderson gang I've
heard SO much of. They're all rich mems
sons, and think they can run things. Their
game is to get all they can and pay nothing
for it. But they will have to pay me for
what they get before they get out of herep
He said it all as quietly as if he had just
remarked he thought it would rain next
day. l sat smoking near the stove, where
could see the young bloods in the billiard
room. | declare they seemed to be very de
cent young men. They had been to the bar
pretty often, and they were trifle lively in
their play, and maybe a bit loud in their
conversation, but that was all, and why
Prescott was afraid of trouble couldn't for
the life of me make out.
But pretty soon they began to show their
hand. First two of them took good stiff
drink and cigar apiece, and then jerked
their thumbs over their shoulders as they
moved toward the door.
The other fellersll make this all right
prescott said Very WELL and then he
bowed them out like prince of the roval
line. Then a couple more took big drink
and the best cigars and out they went.
1.-The other boys in thar'll settle the
scorer
There were now half a dozen big ones
left inside. Pretty soon they came out,
too. They ranged along the bar, filled up
two or three times around and then started
for the door.
"'Stopr
They paused, then looked around mildly
reproachful at Prescott, who stood behind
the bar. One of the party said:
"'Well what dye wantP
Prescott, with his thin, white face show
ing no m-re emotion than a brass kettle,
remarked:
"'Gentemen, you've forgotten some
thing. Please to pay for what you've had
'Wall-we've got no money. Pay yer
some other time
Then something happened The little
whlte-livered cuss of a Prescott sprang
over the bar like a cat, his long white apron
flying between his legs; and before the
Kentuckans comprehended what was to
happen he had his back against the door,
and the six toughs covered with two big
horse pistols His face was as white as
chalk, but | tell you his blue eyes blazed.
In an instant, after recovering from their
surprise, the gang reached for their guns.
But Prescott had them too well covered
He said:
The man that attempts to draw his
shooter gets hole bored "through him as
big as a barrel. Not man shall leave this
room till I've had what's due me-
SIT looked very much Ike blood there for
about minute, but Prescott's blazing eyes
and his ugly looking guns took the starch
out of the toughS, and pretty soon they
tried to stink out of range. One of them
said:
"'We left our money home. Let us out
and We'll fetch it TO yee.'
'No-you-don't.'
"This was Prescott's determined answer.
Indicating one Of the party with pistol, he
said:
"'You put your watch on the cigar case. ,
''He did as directed 1t was a gold re-
peater.
1.-THE big horse pistols were lowered.
"'Now, gentlemen, come up and have
something on me-
prescott said this with all the suavity
imaginable, as he resumed his place behind
the bar, and pretty soon the kentucklans
were lifting in liquor as naturally as if moth
ing unusual had occurred.
money? Why that gang was full of it.
They stood up and called for round after
round, and paid for it, and refused to take
any change OF course after awhile they
got tired and wanted to lean up against the
furniture, while one of them insisted on
kissing the bartender. Finally they went
off loaded right to the muzzle, but perfectly
good natured. They took the gold watch
along, of course. But they left about 500
of good Kentucky money in the place of it.
"a year later / stopped at Prescotts
again.
'''Well, Prescott, have the Henderson
boys cleaned you out yet?
ale smiled. The most profitable custom
ers he had we're those wild Henderson boys
They knew nerve when they saw it, and
they liked it."